The Note, 1/7/09: Discipline Days: Obama Seeks New Control Over Message, Money
EmailBy RICK KLEIN
Who’s the most powerful Democrat in (or almost in) the 111th Congress: Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden, or Roland Burris?
Which nomination will cause the most cable-TV angst for the incoming administration: Eric Holder’s, Leon Panetta’s, Hillary Clinton’s, the vacant Commerce post, or Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s?
For the day, at least, President-elect Barack Obama can put those questions to the side. On Wednesday, while the Burris question comes to a head in the Senate, he can keep his focus at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, in a day highlighted by a meeting of the very few men who can understand what he’s about to take over.
It also marks a return to the stage-managed events — the conscious news-cycle-drivers — that marked the early stages of the transition but haven’t been the norm for a while.
Here, in the midst of probably his roughest patch of the pre-presidency, comes a chance for Obama to re-set things a bit.
In advance of this Thursday speech on the economy, Obama starts the day with a 10:15 am ET press conference — where the talk will be about cost controls and budget discipline, not trillion-dollar deficits.
“President-elect Obama will be introducing his new Chief Performance Officer (CPO) on Wednesday morning,” ABC’s Jake Tapper reports. “This is a new position designed to combat waste and improve efficiency. During this week, when the President-elect has been talking a great deal about spending hundreds of billions of dollars to get the economy moving again, he has tried to also convey that he will be vigilant about spending the money wisely.”
Not a bad time for that subject shift (how many quotes like this will it take to unite the right?): “Slowing tax revenues and a historic bailout of the U.S. financial system will send the budget deficit soaring toward $1 trillion this year, President-elect Barack Obama said yesterday, and the red ink stands to get substantially deeper if Obama wins approval of a massive economic stimulus plan,” Lori Montgomery writes in The Washington Post. “Even if the package of spending and tax cuts helps restore the nation’s immediate economic health, Obama said, the government is likely to be left with ‘trillion-dollar deficits for years to come’ unless policymakers ‘make a change in the way that Washington does business.’ ”
“In his most explicit language on the subject since winning the election, Mr. Obama sought to reassure lawmakers and the financial markets that he was aware of the long-term dangers of running huge deficits and would take steps to limit and eventually reduce them,” Jeff Zeleny and Edmund L. Andrews report in The New York Times.
“On Wednesday, Mr. Obama plans to name a chief performance officer with the task of finding government efficiencies. He has chosen Nancy Killefer, who is director of McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm, and was an assistant secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton administration. The Congressional Budget Office will also release its latest budget estimates, providing the first official predictions of the shortfalls tied to the economic slowdown and the fallen financial markets,” they write.
More details give more reasons for deficit hawks to squawk: “President-elect Barack Obama plans to offer states $7 billion as incentive to permanently change their unemployment-insurance laws to cover part-time workers and prevent other laid-off workers from falling through cracks in the coverage,” Jonathan Weisman reports in The Wall Street Journal. “But the proposal, along with others to subsidize health insurance for the laid-off and expand Medicaid to out-of-work Americans, are sparking bipartisan concern over the potential, long-term impact on a federal budget deficit that is expected to hit $1 trillion this year, even before the stimulus plan.”
The stakes: “Barack Obama’s elaborate rollout of his economic recovery plan could provide an impressive early victory for his incoming administration. But it also carries risks,” Politico’s Jeanne Cummings writes. “If he fails to deliver on his plan — both in scope and in speed — it could wreak havoc with an already precarious economy and roil global markets that have become relatively stable since he began outlining his program. If he fails to treat seriously his invitation to congressional Republicans to engage in the process, it could inject an atmosphere of mistrust and resentment that would haunt his future domestic policy ambitions.”
A quick showdown: “A closed door-meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday will be an early test of President-elect Barack Obama’s economic plan, with Chairman Max Baucus hoping to use the executive session to judge support for the tax cuts and major health provisions at the heart of the $775 billion package,” David Rogers reports for Politico. “Obama is slated to address his plan in greater detail in a speech on Thursday — the same day of the Finance Committee meeting. But the basic outlines of the package have already been aired by his team in a series of calculated press leaks designed to maximize their political advantage.”
The rollout continues through the weekend — when Obama is George Stephanopoulos’ exclusive guest on ABC’s “This Week.”
A good time for advice: On Wednesday, for the first time since 1981, all the current and former living presidents will be at the White House together, for a noon ET lunch welcoming Obama to the club.
“Consider it time for a reunion among the members of one of the world’s most elite clubs, plus the one man about to join it — Barack Obama,” per the AP’s Ben Feller. “Picking up on an idea from Obama, President George W. Bush on Wednesday was hosting a lunch for the incoming president and the three living former presidents: Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. It will be the first time all the living presidents have gathered at the White House since 1981. . . . Considering the bond they hold in history, U.S. presidents get together infrequently, particularly at the White House. And when they are in the same room, it is usually for a milestone or somber moment — a funeral of a world leader, an opening of a presidential library, a commemoration of history. Not this time.”
Yet the meals will be more entertaining down the street. Roland Burris meets with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., at 10:30 am ET in Reid’s office at the Capitol.
And it’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., (again) making the party line blurry: “Senate Democrats are looking for ways to defuse the standoff that has denied Roland Burris the vacated Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama of Illinois, but maybe not much longer,” the AP’s Ann Sanner writes. “Knowledgeable Senate officials in both parties said the saga was widely expected to end with Burris being seated. . . . Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, told reporters Tuesday evening that Burris should be seated. ‘If you don’t seat Mr. Burris, it has ramifications for gubernatorial appointments all over America.’”
“Burris’ legal team is preparing a federal lawsuit, based on a precedent set when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected efforts by the U.S. House of Representatives to exclude Rep. Adam Clayton Powell,” the Chicago Tribune’s Mike Dorning reports. “Should Burris gain the second signature on his appointment certificate, Senate Democratic leaders have a plan in place to refer the issue of seating him to the Senate Rules Committee for an investigation that would drag on until after impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich conclude. The end game would be to then seat a senator appointed by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. But Feinstein, as a member of the Rules Committee with additional standing as its most recent past chairwoman, could hinder that strategy with her support for Burris.”
Politico’s Amie Parnes and Manu Raju give Burris “an unmistakable sense of momentum. He’s now got a top Senate Democrat on his side, a growing chorus of Congressional Black Caucus members backing him and an apparent edge in pending lawsuits. … The key question now for Reid and Durbin: How do they find cover in a political story that has run amok? One idea being considered is to have Burris win an endorsement from the sitting lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, one Democratic insider said.”
“Illinois might get filled before Minnesota,” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reported on “Good Morning America” Wednesday, adding that the biggest obstacle may be cleared if Burris commits to not running for a full term. “If he agrees to that, I think he could get seated — and the lieutenant governor of Illinois is signaling he could go along with that deal.”
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet: “Most Democrats I talked to now figure Burris will eventually be seated.”
“The sight of the Senate slamming the door in the face of a qualified man who would also be its only black member was apparently too much for some Democrats to stand,” National Review’s Byron York writes.
Not that Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., and Burris himself haven’t already gotten most of what they banked on: “He was seeking to have a circus — and he succeeded,” The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank writes. “He has been displaying himself rather prominently since last week, when Blagojevich, the disgraced Illinois governor, appointed Burris to the very same Senate seat Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell. . . . The magic man’s media tour — which has taken him from NBC’s ‘Today’ show and PBS to CNN and MSNBC to most any newspaper reporter who calls — continued yesterday morning, with CBS News’s ‘The Early Show, when he predicted that he would be sworn in on Tuesday. ‘I do believe I will be,’ he said.”
Panetta pushback — after even Joe Biden declares the lack of consultations with the Hill a “mistake.”
“Current and former intelligence officials expressed sharp resentment over Obama’s choice of Leon E. Panetta as CIA director and suggested that the agency suffers from incompetent leadership and low morale,” Karen DeYoung and Jody Warrick report in The Washington Post. “The Panetta uproar starts Obama off on the wrong foot with the committee and intelligence professionals and was the latest glitch in what has largely been an unusually smooth and carefully choreographed transition.”
A Holder hiccup: “The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., this afternoon raised the level of his rhetoric in questioning the ‘character’ of President-elect Obama’s nominee to be Attorney General, Eric Holder,” ABC’s Jake Tapper reports. “Specter suggested that he’s concerned that Holder would be too much like former Attorneys General Harry Daugherty (of the Teapot Dome scandal), Homer Cummings (of FDR’s court-packing riff) and Alberto Gonzales — more loyal to the President than to the rule of law.”
For top doc, a (too?) familiar face: “America’s most famous television surgeon, Sanjay Gupta, is poised to take his black bag and microphone to the White House as President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for U.S. surgeon general,” Ceci Connolly and Howard Kurtz write in The Washington Post. “A neurosurgeon who is also a correspondent for CNN and CBS, Gupta was chosen as much for his broadcasting skills as for his medical résumé, suggesting that the incoming administration values visible advisers who can drive a public message.”
In The New York Times, Gardiner Harris calls it “a pick that will give the moribund office a higher profile but one that has received a mixed reaction among public health advocates. … If he takes the job, Dr. Gupta would be accepting an ailing patient. The status and authority of the surgeon general, the titular head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, has been on the wane for decades.”
Among the sights and sounds to remember Tuesday, on a, well, memorable day at the Capitol: Sen. Ted Kennedy’s return. “Perched behind his seat in the rear of the chamber – a coveted spot, since it is close to the doors to the Senate cloakroom, where deals are done – a relaxed Kennedy chuckled and chatted with fellow senators and staff. Except for the cane he now uses, he looked much the way he did prior to his May diagnosis,” Susan Milligan writes in The Boston Globe.
“Even while attending the swearing-in of his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, the elder Kennedy was already laying the groundwork for moving legislation forward. Surprising a delighted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Kennedy and his wife, Vicki, joined her for photos to honor the younger Kennedy’s election to his eighth term in Congress – but the senator did not miss the chance to buttonhole the speaker about healthcare and other parts his legislative agenda,” Milligan writes.
Jeb is out, meaning everyone else in GOP politics in Florida might be in: “Dousing Republican hopes that a political giant would enter the U.S. Senate race, Jeb Bush said Tuesday that he will not run,” writes Adam C. Smith, in the St. Petersburg Times. “The announcement opened the door for a free-for-all of candidates vying for the rare open Senate seat in 2010 to be vacated by incumbent Republican Mel Martinez. Attorney General Bill McCollum and former state House Speakers Allan Bense and Marco Rubio said they are again looking seriously at the Republican nomination and will make announcements soon.”
Going, and going, and going, in Minnesota: “Surrounded by cheering supporters, Republican Norm Coleman, who received 225 fewer votes than DFLer Al Franken in the U.S. Senate recount, vowed Tuesday to wage a court battle to challenge the outcome,” Pat Doyle and Kevin Duchschere write in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “In deciding to fight on, Coleman rejected Monday’s ruling of the state Canvassing Board, which certified the results that gave Franken the lead. The next phase of the dispute will take place in Ramsey County District Court, where Coleman will try to convince a three-judge panel that he was hurt by votes that were wrongly excluded and improperly included in the recount.”
More fun in New York: “Even as Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo insisted he was staying out of the competition for New York’s soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat, a top Cuomo aide urged labor leaders and upstate officials to refrain from embracing Caroline Kennedy for the job, according to several people with direct knowledge of the conversations,” Nicholas Confessore reports in The New York Times.
Fearless predictions, from The Hill’s newest pundit/blogger, Chris Kofinis: “President Obama signs into law the largest stimulus package in U.S. history by Feb. 1 (give or take a few days), with overwhelming support in both houses of Congress. … President Obama signs into law historic healthcare reform (nearly universal) within the first five months, with conservative Republicans balking but a coalition of business/labor/healthcare activists helping to seal the deal. … President Obama will not veto a single piece of legislation this year, but expect Republicans to threaten a filibuster more often than Britney Spears ends up in People. … From healthcare to the environment, President Obama’s administration accomplishes more in 12 months, legislatively, than any administration since FDR.”
Your recession data point — the new $485,000 White House china: “Why is Laura Bush introducing the new ‘Bush’ china — two weeks before they move out?” ABC’s Ann Compton reported on “Good Morning America” Wednesday. “The White House worried that wear and tear had taken a toll on its fragile china collections, and the Bushes took some time to decide on a new design.”
“No time but the present,” White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said with a laugh.
“I’m baffled by this — the timing of it,” said Sally Quinn.
The Kicker:
“I’m just on display.” — Roland Burris, speaking the truth.
Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.html
For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/
Follow The Note blog on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Here’s the deal. The Imperial Federal Government of the United States collects about $167 billion a month in income and withholding taxes. The Congress has already passed a $700 billion stimulus bill, and about a half of that is gone, leaving $350 billion of your money in the pot. Some have suggested that this $350 billion be left as some sort of a bailout/stimulus slush fund for the incoming Obama Administration. In other words … let the politicians figure out how to spend it. Gohmert thinks it might be a better idea to allow the people who actually earned this $350 billion to spend it as they see fit. OK, if you have any appreciation at all for the concept of economic freedom that sounds like a good idea; but how do you make it work in this instance.
Posted by: welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am
The Perfect Stimulus Package-The government simply absorbs the remaining $350 billion from the stimulus bill and suspends the collection of all income and payroll taxes for two months. Even trade. This means that for two months you get your entire paycheck (well … less any State withholding). The government ends up with the same amount of money in its coffers, and the income earners in this country have some extra money to spend – an average about $2,000 per taxpayer – over the following two months. This plan puts the economic stimulus money right into the hands of the people who actually earned it in the first place. Can you imagine that? by: Neal Boortz Let’s start writing our congressman and senators now! Could something like this actually make its way through our Congress? Sure it could … if the voters demanded it. But hey …let’s get serious.
Posted by: welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
For too long, the American people have been asked to comply with an incomprehensible, loophole-riddled, lobbyist-friendly income tax code that makes it far too easy for innocent taxpayers to find themselves at the mercy of a punitive federal agency. Further, the income tax code has long been used by Washington policymakers as a tool for social engineering, with the costs being embedded into the costs consumers pay for goods. American citizens and the American economy have suffered as a result. The fairtax is the answer
Posted by: RMBarley | January 7, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Adopting the FairTax would mean an immediate repeal of all corporate and individual income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes and gift taxes. In their place, Congress would enact a consumption tax that would be collected at the point of sale for a good or service. One advantage of the FairTax is immediately clear: With no need for a federal entity to police individual Americans’ compliance, the excessively bureaucratic and needlessly intrusive Internal Revenue Service could be eliminated.
Posted by: Respectfulcitizen | January 7, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Historic bailout – historic failure.
Posted by: NPage | January 7, 2009, 9:31 am 9:31 am
What do I care whether or not the senator from Illinois is seated? If I lived in Illinois it might be all important. I mean really, how does this scandal impact folks in Maine, or the rest of the country? Will it affect getting the stimulus package passed? The press is loving this drama. I truly don’t care.
Posted by: Amy | January 7, 2009, 9:38 am 9:38 am
welostintegrity, your ideas are intriguing. But, would this sustain medicare, social security, our military, our public schools, our infrastructure? Just asking. I mean, I’d love to see the IRS go bye bye.
Posted by: Amy | January 7, 2009, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Historic Failure? You ain’t seen nothing yet. And y’all know who I’m talking about! Spread the wealth to Hope and Change. Hooraah. How much cash for the inauguration, Great One?
Posted by: Just Wait | January 7, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
change is here-and it has less to do with pres obama and more to do with the state of the country and the world–like it or not-all the old solutions and bandaids will no longer work-If all you can do is complain-you might as well get off here and go stick pins in your dolls-voo doo economics is all you’ve got in your bag-I am all for listening to new and radical thinking-new voices and new ideas-keep it coming
Posted by: cowgirlblues | January 7, 2009, 9:58 am 9:58 am
“welostintegrity, your ideas are intriguing. But, would this sustain medicare, social security, our military, our public schools, our infrastructure?” === It might. Make it about 25% and exempt basic foods (flour, but not boxed pizza) and prescription medications. If you don’t want to pay taxes, don’t spend money. This would also tap the underground economy which deals mainly in cash. The only downside would be all the unemployed accountants and tax attorneys begging for change on the streets.
Posted by: kseyetie | January 7, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
People is it really wise to set about bashing Obama and what he is trying to accomplish?
It’s our country. It’s our jobs. It’s our stock market.
The market has been trying to rally, the first time in almost a year. All we need is to come together and unite for a little while and it will happen.
It is not about Obama, IT IS ABOUT US!!
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
David Williams, you are so right…It’s time people stop bashing Obama and let’s come together….we can all sit and complain all we want but if we don’t unite and try to get this country back on its feet we will all suffer.
I’m so tired of the Obama bashing…He has some good ideas and some people don’t even want to give him a chance. Perhaps you want Bush and Company to continue?????
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am
This clown-in-chief has never had to work hard a day in his life. Now he’s having to work… Affirmative action will only carry so much…
Posted by: Gina | January 7, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
I don’t care what Feinstein thinks. You can’t place a senator that has no political capital. His presence would equate to nothing.
Posted by: JOE | January 7, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
I’m just sick. DOW is now down -185 on the day.
There was hope. It was begining to rally. Now the GOP senators are stalling and threatening filibusters across the board…
What country do they represent?
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Gina, why do you call Obama Clown in Chief? This is exactly what I mean…he is working hard…he has a huge mess on his hands because of the current administration…just keep on complaining….I’m sure that will fix everything.
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Again David Williams, you are right…The GOP are again causing problems….the market was rallying …why do they have to stall and make threats? They lost, the Dems won…let’s give them a chance!!!! It does our country no good when people cannot work together.
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Hi Friends,
I Find Absolutely FREE PlayBoy & Penthous
http://www.girlsupdates.com
If I find something else I’ll inform you.
Best Regards,
Mariya
Posted by: Mariya | January 7, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Consider a 70% public disapproval of the bailouts already in force. Consider a national debt already in the ten trillion dollar range. Our national debt increases so fast who can keep up with it any more. What we need is a Dept. of Economic Feasability and Responsibility made up of pig farmers (no offense pig farmers),garbage men (no offense garbage men), and automobile mechanics (no offense auto mechanics of America). My point is common people have far more intelligence in the field of spending vs income than our brilliant Congress could ever hope for. No spending or taxation could be done without the approval of the Dept. of Econbomic Feasability and Responsibility. Excuse me. Did you say trillion dollar annual deficits for years to come? That’s trillion with nine zeros?
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Where is Bush? He is still president of this country.
Why is he not stepping forth and requesting support for the incomming administration and their efforts?
He always did seem to dissapear at times when he was needed the most. Thers’s a major conflic in the mid-east and he has no comment?
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Why is there a black congressional caucus? Aren’t we all just Americans? Why do they segregate themselves?
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
When Clinton left office we had a huge surplus. How on earth could these idiots give us a trillion dollar annual deficit? Bush and Company and the congress should ALL be investigated. What on earth was Bush thinking? He gave us war that was needless, ignored Katrina and looked the other way as mortage companies, banks and ins. companies spent like there was no tomorrow, gave mortgages to people on the street, and had wild parties and huge bonuses. They should all be in jail
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Not yet senator Burris has no legal position that would entitle him to be seated. Without the signature of the Illinois Secretary of State his nomination is incomplete. The Illinois Secretary of State says he won’t sign off on the nomination until the Blagojevich problem is cleared up.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am
David Williams; Bush did make a comment. He stated Israel has a right to defend itself from attack. Ask yourself what America would do if another country started launching missiles into the US. Israel has put up with it and made every reasonable effort to maintain peace for ten years. Meanwhile Hamas vows to continue its attacks until Israel is liquidated.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, here is something that should cause a lot of introspection by every voter in America.
’545 People by Charlie Reese’
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices – 545 human beings out of the 300 million – are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.
I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the speaker of the House? She/he is the leader of the majority party. She/he and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.
If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 pe ople.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ, it’s because they want them in IRAQ.
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like ‘the economy,’ ‘inflation’ or ‘politics’ that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses – provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
And keep in mind this Congress only worked 93 days last year! The shortest season in history and at a time when we are at war and the economy is tumbling!
Posted by: Lizzie | January 7, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Yes Barb, and now they are claiming to be the party of budget retraint… it almost makes me want to laugh (if I wasn’t crying)
Yes, Bill Clinton left us with a annual budget surplus. He could not however overcome the 5 trillion in national debt that the previous presidents had created.
Then Junior came along and added an additional 4 trillion in national debt.
Unfortunately he also left on the edge of a huge cliff. If we do something to stimulate this economy the situation could end up much worse.
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Barb; The incoming idiots intend to perpetuate, even increase the insane annual spending that gives us trillion dollar annual deficits. So what’s your point?
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
AMY’s question: What do I care whether or not the senator from Illinois is seated? If I lived in Illinois it might be all important. I mean really, how does this scandal impact folks in Maine, or the rest of the country? Will it affect getting the stimulus package passed? The press is loving this drama. I truly don’t care.
Answer:
There are two congresspeople from each state that go to Washington DC to discuss, make laws about, decide on, vote on issues that affect the whole country. While they represent their home state, they also have an impact nationally. Often they’re on committees that affect the rest of congress’ opinion. That’s why it’s important to everyone (for each of the newly appointed senators). It’s of interest because these people are being appointed, not elected. It’s also of interest due to the Illinois Governor’s statements, his situation and the precedence it can set for other governors throughout the country.
Posted by: just your basic citizen | January 7, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
We the people prefer the New America. It is a fact. No more Fore Fathers slaves’ owners, Jim Crow types bull, we prefer the new bright America … land of the braves baby. Why? Think about this, no other country invades China or Russia because your butt will be romp period
Posted by: Big Al | January 7, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Mmonroeliveson: My POINT is that we should never have had this deficit to begin with…and the reason they are pouring more money into it is to create jobs and help people out with no ins., etc….if you read this is exactly why Obama is doing this….there is no other choice because of the OUTGOING IDIOTS!!!
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 11:13 am 11:13 am
This is not the toughest stretch for Obama…. this is the easiest as he is not responsible.
In a few days, we will be attacked somewhere in the world and he will have to approve killing someone…….. is he up to it?
Posted by: donbl1 | January 7, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am
welostintegrity, your ideas are intriguing. But, would this sustain medicare, social security, our military, our public schools, our infrastructure? Just asking. I mean, I’d love to see the IRS go bye bye. Posted by: Amy
Amy-google fair tax, There is something called flat tax, but what I’ve read Fair tax would rid us of the irs and the lobbyists, which would clean up the senate, after all this mess started with the Mortgage Crisis Happened, also you may want to read “Why the mortgage crisis happened” by Jay Wells
By M. Jay Wells
Posted by: welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
This is all so rather tedious and boring.
Americans took the easy out and elected somebody with marginal speech skills, no experence, and a thin resume.
The rest of the world isn’t fooled. Putin will invade Ukraine in 2009. Obama can’t stop him. Israel will crush the Gaza strip. Obama can’t stop it.
Ill educated children have elected a marginal leader. Many Americans will discover their folly in 2009 and never admit it.
Posted by: Hannibal Lechter | January 7, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
It took Bush 8 years to add 4 trillion dollars of debt. Obama can do it in four. No doubt he’s a better spender.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am
If there’s one sure way to combat waste it’s to set up yet another government position to combat waste.
Posted by: MadeInUSA | January 7, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Gina, “this clown has never worked.”????
Affirmative action might have been a huge help in getting Obama in the White HHouse but think about it…….There are a lot of Black people and this the first to get to the white house.
Bush on the hand, is the second to get in the white house. Do you think he actually worked?
And we wonder why this country is so screwed up. That is the kind of rationalization people can come up with.
Posted by: tiredofpoliticalbashing | January 7, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Our congress spends money like today’s youth. They subscribe to the idea that we want it all now, we have credit available and we can have it all now. The young people of today don’t understand that their parents started with hand me downs and used furnishings. They don’t understand that the homes and toys their parents acquired were acquired over years and their parents saved to buy them. Now our youth and our government alike are head over heels in debt and all their income is obligated. They must borrow even more money to pay the bills they already have and are determined to acquire more debt.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
welostintegrity
Thanks for the information. I’ve started reading the Wall Street Journal these days, believe it or not, trying to understand how the financial world works.
Posted by: Amy | January 7, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
In addition to the election of a megalomaniac empty suit-one Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama, about whom we, the people are permitted to know little (no access to school records, medical records, birth records) other than his anti-American friends, win at all costs strategy–ACORN fraud, massive amounts of campaign contributions that are “untraceable,” among other such unsavory behaviors and involvements which reduce our nation to a banana republicesque laughing stock, we do know that he has severed a major artery within this country by his continual use of the “race card.”
Posted by: welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am
Here’s the deal. The Imperial Federal Government of the United States collects about $167 billion a month in income and withholding taxes. The Congress has already passed a $700 billion stimulus bill, and about a half of that is gone, leaving $350 billion of your money in the pot. Some have suggested that this $350 billion be left as some sort of a bailout/stimulus slush fund for the incoming Obama Administration. In other words … let the politicians figure out how to spend it. Gohmert thinks it might be a better idea to allow the people who actually earned this $350 billion to spend it as they see fit. OK, if you have any appreciation at all for the concept of economic freedom that sounds like a good idea; but how do you make it work in this instance.
Posted by: Respectfulcitizen | January 7, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Tiredofpolitical bashing: Of course Bush worked…what’s wrong with you? He worked at a war that cost us billions of dollars and thousands of lives and injuries, he worked at ignoring Katrina costing more lives, injuries, he worked at making the surplus left by Clinton into a huge trillion dollar deficit, he worked at making us the laughing stock of the world, he worked at sitting idly by watching the mortgage mess go on…He sure did work..Didn’t you hear him say “this is hard work you know!!!”
and he also said the “economy is structurely sound” and we have to get these evil doers!!!
Yes and we wonder why this country is so screwed up….I cannot understand how on earth he got elected once but twice!!!! and some say he kept us safe? 9/11 happened under his watch!!!!
And people are bashing Obama? At least you can understand what he is saying and he speaks in sentences and makes sense…
I agree with you 100%…people are coming up with this kind of radionlization..God help us all.
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Barb; My point is that the government has no money to spend for the things you think are so urgently needed that it’s OK to go deeper in debt to secure them, and it must be done right now…why? Had there been no bailouts whatsoever life would have gone on and the economy would have recovered on its own. The only difference is that the only financial institutions left standing would be the well managed ones and a bunch of institutions would have defaulted on their credit default swaps which weren’t guaranteed by the FDIC so the only people who would have been stiffed would be the big time gamblers playing Wall Street.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am
mmonreolieveson: I know what you are talking about, we just keep spending…but it would have never happened if Bush hadn’t given us this huge deficit…and if we don’t bail out some people they will be living on the streets…and the banks…I don’t think the economy could have recovered on its own..And Paulson was the one on his knees begging for the bailout along with Bush so if we shouldn’t have done this Bush and Paulson are to blame…why did they beg for it?
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
welostintegrity
Thanks for the information. I’ve started reading the Wall Street Journal these days, believe it or not, trying to understand how the financial world works.
Amy, I also read WSJ. And I’ve started reading American Thinker, Investors Business Daily and Townhall. I don’t know if I have never paid close attention before or if I was just naive. But I never realized how much our main stream media news is censored. I have found it astonishing, -What is even more frightening than the sinister schemes of liberal politicians to silence and criminalize political opposition is the apparent eagerness of rank-and-file liberals and our mainstream media to go along with them. Our First Amendment rights have been jeopardized. We have no Freedom of Speech. The most unnerving aspects are their intolerance for dissent and their willingness to censor and otherwise suppress their opponents.
Posted by: welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Barb, you really need to stop drinking the kool-aid or find other sources for your information, sorry friend you are being brainwashed!
–The Democrat governor of Louisiana, a white woman, refused to cooperate with President Bush when the president asked for her consent to begin a mandatory evacuation four days before the storm.
The Democrats in the Louisiana homeland security office also refused to let the Red Cross bring truckloads of food, water and supplies to the Superdome.
Since 1980, Louisiana emergency personnel knew that the levees in New Orleans would not withstand a category 3 or 4 hurricane. Yet, the Democrats in Congress filibustered President Bush’s energy bill which was introduced in 2001 and contained $540 million for repairing the levees in New Orleans.”
Posted by: Welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
“Further, the Posse Comitatus Act passed by Congress in 1878 prevents a president from sending federal troops to a state without the governor’s consent.
Frances Rice
Black Female Conservative
Retired Army Colonel
Gifted Lawyer
Barb I beg of you find another source for information the main stream media is brain washing you. When all is said and done, it is We The People who need to come to the sobering realization that the problem rests with the American citizen (you and me). The road to saving this country is daunting with a long laundry list of challenges, but the very first step for every American is to simply WAKE UP.
Posted by: Welostintegrity | January 7, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Barb, I have a lot of “conspiracy theorists” in my family. They start to sound pretty nutty after awhile. They start out in having some truth in what they believe, then their reading sources just compound it and expands it to the point of no-return.
My point is pretty much explained by welostintregity, and in all of his sources. You just believe what you want to believe, and read only what enforces those beliefs.
I have to agree with you, in the fact, that people just can’t see what is obvious and they make rationalizations about what they just can’t face.
Example: 9/11, Bush keeping us safe…
Katrina: everyone knew it was coming and still nothing was done for a long time after by our goverment.
To make sense of it, you have to make unrealistic rationalizations and believe it……Whatever it takes to look yourself in the mirror and justify our own stupity for getting us there, Not once, But twice! Somehow, it must have been not the obvious choice but someone else’s fault.
I am tired of the bashing. I would like to see our country come up out of the ashes and support each other just like after 9/11! I know that is rather idealistic of me, isn’t it?
I enjoy your posts, keep them up, no matter what everyone else says to you about them. You do have integrity.
Posted by: tiredofpoliticalbashing | January 7, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
Barb; I agree. The begging and sense of urgency along with the doom and gloom projected while begging on the part of Paulsen and Bernacke is what more than anything else brought about the worldwide financial crisis. Had the US been fuel self sufficient at the time the bad mortgages would not have been exposed and the credit default swaps would not have been exposed as the garbage gambling documents they are. So what’s being done about credit default swaps? What’s being done about the environmental lawsuits that stand in the way of harvesting our own resources rather than remaining at the mercy of the manipulations of fuel production by our enemies? What’s being done about the malpractice and malfeasance lawsuits that have crippled our healthcare industry and driven costs skyrocketing. When will the insurance and pharmaceutical companies and the hospitals and medical professionals be held accountable for their raping of American consumers?
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Will a national healthcare plan that gives everyone healthcare insurance bring any relief to the man on the street? No way. Healthcare insurors are for profit businesses. The cost of buying healthcare insurance will always be greater than the amount of medical expenses they pay. The insurance industry is the largest industry in the US by far. They also have the biggest lobby effort. Don’t get all starry eyed when politicians offer relief via insurance coverage. The only ones who will make out are the insurors.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
welostintegrity
I agree with you we no can’t trust the mainstream media, they are selling a product, news as entertainment, you have to look all over the net these days and do your own research, to understand what’s happening.
As for castigating liberals and suggesting they suppress free speech, you lost me there buddy, examples?
Posted by: Amy | January 7, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
tired of political bashing: thanks…and hopefully everyone will stop the bashing and get our country together.
and mmonroelives on: Yes we have to straghten out this mess but the trouble is there is so much fraud and red tape
and greed you don’t know where to start. I would love to see bonuses and high salaries taken away from all these CEOs, managers, presidents…they are making millions of dollars…give it to the employees who work their tails off instead. And investigate the insurance companies and hospital boards…where is all this money going? If only we could finally have good health ins. for everyone we would not have to take charity cases and hospitals go into the red. And malpractice cases….and accident cases…yes if a doctor makes it so a person cannot function we need to take care of them but look at all the ridiculous lawsuits. and Congress just gave themselves a raise? They should take a cut! How is this allowed? I think the entire aministration and congress should be fully investigated.
But we have to stop the bashing and stand behind Obama…if we see in a few years he’s not good, then we can replace him, but I honestly think he will do a good job…but look at what he has to contend with…give him a break…whether you voted for him or not, I did, he will be our President. I stood behind Bush in the beginning even though I didn’t vote for him, but when I saw what a lousy job he was doing, I didn’t. That’s the problem with America….everyone has their own opinions which is great, but you can’t be overly stubborn and also vicious bashing, like Obama is a terriorist…that was one of the most ridiculous statements I ever heard!
Posted by: Barb | January 7, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“we no can’t trust”
me no proof read! Ha ha. Sorry.
I meant to say we can no longer trust the mainstream media. I am in agreement with you on that.
Posted by: Amy | January 7, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
“Excuse me. Did you say trillion dollar annual deficits for years to come? That’s trillion with nine zeros?”
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 7, 2009 10:40:10 AM
Unless this is a joke, you’re actually off by three (3) zeros….
Posted by: bobj72 | January 7, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
“Why is there a black congressional caucus? Aren’t we all just Americans? Why do they segregate themselves?”
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 7, 2009 10:44:17 AM
Monroe, you are a “Real Distraction!” And were it not for your obvious “Appetite for attention,” I would say your “race speech” is naive, immature and ignorant – for a Southern Black Man of your age. But the Truth-Of-The-Matter is; your “race speech” is vindictive, hateful, devisive and is an Intentional Attempt to Incite Racial Tensions! (Intentional; as you are far too intelligent, NOT to have known this.)
Posted by: bobj72 | January 7, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Right Bobj; My bad. Make that 12 zeros. There’s a good chance Obama will increase the deficit by 4 trillion in only three years with a cooperative legislature, beating Bush by 4-5 years.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Bobj; I turned on C-SPAN2 this morning and they were airing the swearing in of the new black caucus members. Everyone present was black and this was additional but exceptional to yesterday’s previous swearing in of the newly elected officials. It just smacked me in the face that having a black caucus is as partisan as politics could get. Talk about a real distraction…I didn’t do it. They have come up with their separatist agenda on their own. They’ve become an elected race based lobby group within our legislature and in my opinion it’s just wrong as wrong can be since every one of those blacks was elected to represent a mixed constituency. Or in your expert opinion is a double standard acceptable if blacks are in question? Is it acceptable to question the actions and motives of blacks at all in your mind? Years of white discrimination do not justify black discrimination in my mind. Two wrongs have never resulted in a right.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Barb; I’ve never called Obama a terrorist. I do however question his brand of Saul Alinski socialism and his Kinesian economic policies. I personally don’t see how America will benefit from the application of his policies. The taxpayer is already overstressed with financial commitments. When government spending increases, so does the ongoing taxpayer liability. At some point, when our credit runs out, the government will become unable to meet its commitments. According to Alinski’s dissertations, that’s part of the plan. That’s what bothers me as Obama’s plan unfolds.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Following the stock crash of 1929 there was a time when a great many Americans could do nothing else but necome nomads. The banks were gone and there were no jobs. Tent cities sprung up on the out skirts of our little towns. It wasn’t so much 1929 that did us in, it was 1930 and 1931.
There is a reason why they say “those who fail to learm from history are doomed to repeat it”. I just never realized that some many will fight so hard for a political affiliation that will never return anything of any form of value to them. You’ve got to hand it to them as they are certainly stubborn and unfortunately all to willing to take the rest us in a direction that is just not a very good way for us to go.
We need Barrak Obama to take action now and maybe we can avoid the train wreck
to which we are currently appointed
The DOW jones in now down -294
God help us!
Posted by: David Wiliams | January 7, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Monroe, you said; “They have come up with their separatist agenda on their own. They’ve become an elected race based lobby group within our legislature.”
I say; I guess ‘where I stand’ is, so long as the Legislators effectively represent their constituency, what’s the problem? Incidentally Black and Hispanic people have found it productive for everyone, as they formed their caucues (which are “open” and do not discriminate), as their principle focus is to develop and implement political strategy ‘to benefit the whole (of The House of Representatives.’) It should be noted several ‘Fortune 50 companies’ strongly encouraged and assisted in the formulation and establishment of ‘Black Caucuses’ within their companies. The companies were not only rewarded for their efforts, productivity increased dramatically, and the ‘workplace satisfaction index’ increased in acceptability for the overall workforce. Were it not for the fact you have “knee-jerk” reactions to activities of Black folks, I would be ‘non effected’ by your observations.
If you had ever “voiced a negative reaction” to “Improper, Illegal and/or socially despicable behavior by White folks” – your scale would be ‘balanced’ in my estimation. But ‘straight-forward’, with you being a Black Man, married to a White Woman, your ‘public pronouncements’, that many times lack a knowledge-base and reasonable sensitivities …….. Will cause me to challenge you and the ligitimacy of your argument.
Posted by: bobj72 | January 7, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Ok Monroe (whateveryour name) Let’s get our facts straight. The last U.S president to ever balance the US budget was Andrew Jackson a Democrat!
The last president to run an annual budget surplus was Bill Clinton also a Democrat!
Running up the national debt is a Republican thing. Our economy is in trouble and we are in need of stimulus, or otherwise Barrak Obama would repeal those tax breaks on people earning more than 250,000 a year.
But lets get something straight. It is a GOP thing to run up large deficits. It is a DEM thing to try and cut them short and to bring them under control.
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
David Williams; Too much short term profit taking on the stock market is causing volatility. Tomorrow the market will rebound….or not. Stocks are for sale for the purpose of funding the operations of businesses and the goal of those who invest in stocks was intended to be the return of stockholder dividends. Beyond that, the US dollar has no backing other than the confidence of the consumer and our trade partners. Therefore the US dollar is merely a unit of trust. When our government begins to honor its own requirement for fiscal responsibly, trust will be restored and our economy can begin recovery, but not a moment before.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Just about every professional economist (left or right) who’s looked at our current economic situation agrees that the deepening job losses and business contraction will only get worse, unless the federal government stimulates demand. Otherwise we could face the prospect of another great depression. The other usual sources of such stimulation (consumer spending, Federal Reserve action, exports) are not available now, for reasons anyone who’s been following this understands. Getting money flowing again through a series of prudent steps now will avoid even greater pain. If it’s done right, it will also leave the basis for longer-term economic growth (e.g., building and repairing roads and schools). Everyone understand this will increase deficits in the interim, but unlike Bush’s deficits, these steps are necessary and taken with the long-term interests of most Americans (not just the very richest) in mind. Obama clearly understands the short-term stimulus needs and the longer-term budget needs. It’s nice to have leaders who can deal with this crisis in an intelligent, open way, even if it will take time to get out of the mess he inherited.
Posted by: tmginnova | January 7, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
When our government begins to honor its own requirement for fiscal responsibly, trust will be restored and our economy can begin recovery, but not a moment before.
—————
Yes I firmly believe that we will see better days in to comming future under the guidance of Barrak and his cabinette choices. ie.. yes we should return to a strong dollar policy.
I just hate to see the knees get cut out from under this ‘Honeymoon” rally because of excessive nit picking and un due bashing by both the media and those who just cannot accept that John McCain lost.
…and I seriously believe that this may be happening.
Posted by: David Williams | January 7, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
FREE ONLINE TV, MOVIES, MUSIC, VIRTUAL WORLDS, GOOD GAMES, AND FREE COLLEGE EDUCATIONS @ INTERNETSURFSHACK.COM
Posted by: G | January 7, 2009, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
There is a very bad piece of truth being circulated that Republicans are the party that will be best look out for the interestes of business.
This is not neccessarily true.
The stock market historically has always done better performance wise under the Democrats.
The earnings power of top CEO’s and Company owners officers etc.. has always done better under the Republicans.
Unfortunately a lot of people vote against their own best intersests solely because of this one mistaken piece of information. They believe that if the money is passed to the CEO’s owners etc… that it will in someway find a way to return to them. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Posted by: Right man | January 7, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Bobj; I’ve never ever even insinuated that the injustices of the white man toward the black man were anything less than dispicable. My problem is they way the black man has interpreted equality since being legally granted such in 1964. There seems to be an ongoing demand for payback from the old school blacks that experienced discrimination before the civil rights act was passed. In my mind the pendulum has swung far left and has been stuck there long enough. Many younger blacks understand that they have to work for whatever they get out of life, just like white people must work for what they get.There’s no guarantee of success but the playing field is finally level. Obama being elected president is the evidence. Though I question the means by which he won (ACORN)and I question what he intends to do with his remarkable opportunity (Alinski politics), his election is proof positive that the opportunity America offers her citizens is available to all her citizens. That’s change and that’s hope in itself. Now can we just get on with the political banter without racial implications. That’s what I’d like to see more of along with less black caucus type perpetuation of racial divides.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
What is your problem with ACORN?
They process voter registrations and nothing more.
In every disctrict, precinct county etc.. there sits an official responsible to ensure that incoming registrations are both genuin and valid. If someone in ACORN submits an invalid registration than they should be immediately caught and rejected.
This is not an area open to fraud along the same line that the electronic voting machines area.
Posted by: right man | January 7, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
David Williams; McCain deserved to lose. He wasn’t the best candidate. I don’t think the best candidate was presented as either major party choice. The dynamic political leadership abilities of Obama may turn out to be just what we need right now. We can only hope. As for which party runs up the bills and which party gets us out of debt, we could argue all day. There are too many variable external influences that come into play to accurately determine who intended to do what and with which and to whom. A lot of it is simply luck. I do believe that absolute power absolutely corrupts even the best intended people. All our politicians must forever and always be closely monitored. Adherence to any one party is probably not in anyone’s best interest. Frequent change of politicians like frequent changes of underwear helps keep things clean.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
right man; Acorn is a non-profit organization, overtly commited to register voters, and largely funded by taxpayer dollars. It’s not the fraudulent registrations that are objectionable, but rather the pursuit of partisan voter registrations only that is objectionable. Were it not for the taxpayer funded part there would be nothing objectionable about ACORN. Since ACORN receives taxpayer funds, ACORN is thereby obligated to be non-partisan in its politics. It’s clearly not bipartisan.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
When I here people refering to
SOCIALISM or
BILL AYERS or
WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION
ACORN
HUSSIEN OBAMA
NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Friends these were old hat GOP talking points used by the McCain/Palin campaign during the last election, when they could not gain either traction or an advantage during the campaign. Most did not surface until the latter part when they knew they were not going to win. It is widely believed that thier gutter grabbing actually back fired on them and resulted with making the situation even worse.
The election is over! let it go.
Barrak Obama is an American and a Democrat. In spite of what some commentators will say (in making themselves wealthy) He is not and does not subscribe to the politics of SOCIAISM. This is a horrible misnomer that is totally unfair and has no basis in truth.
Posted by: David Willliams | January 7, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
tmginnova; You said the federal government must stimulate demand. Demand for what? I’m not being critical only curious as to what it is that must be in demand and by whom. Haven’t heard it put that way before.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Monroe, you said; “the playing field is finally level. Obama being elected president is the evidence…. I question the means by which he won (ACORN)and I question what he intends to do with his remarkable opportunity (Alinski politics), his election is proof positive that the opportunity America offers her citizens is available to all her citizens.”
Comments such as these “point up” your naivete and lack of ‘real world’ reality. And your bias always “sticks out like a ripe Pimple” when you make direct reference to PE Barack Obama (and other Black Public Figures, I’ve observes you ‘passing judgement on.’) Something’s going on here!
Monroe, I think your basic problem is; You find it difficult to ‘face into the Fact’; “race implications” exist… they won’t ‘go away’ we must face into them, deal with them honestly – to overcome them. It’s obvious you would prefer there be no distinctions in the races. The ‘Old Cliche’ We are a ‘melting pot’, but since we don’t all meld together, I prefer saying; “We are a very large Quilt, and each patch has its’ own history and culture ‘to take pride in’ – as we bring our hopes and dreams to the present, while we put forth our best effort to make this a better place for all.”
There is Truth in who we are and where we come from. Our challenge is to accept this fact, in ourselves and in others. And challenge ourselves and those around us (who we can influence) to come to accept our fellow man (and woman) so we can work toward “the command” – to love one another……….
Posted by: bobj72 | January 7, 2009, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
ACORN is one of the things that David Williams is talking about, an election GOP talking point. ie.. used to create fear or discomfort with the voters.
They can file all of the ‘Partisan’ registrations they so choose. If the registrations are not valid, they will be rejected, did you hear me the first time?
again there are election officials in place whos job it is to ensure that there are ample checks and balances.
Too much Rush or Hannity dude!!
Those guys make their money in getting folks like you all riled up and excited over things. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with the truth.
Posted by: Right man | January 7, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Monroe, I feel compelled to respond to this last statement from you, re; race. (As I know this topic is an “Outdated Bore” to most folks.) You said; “There seems to be an ongoing demand for payback from the old school blacks that experienced discrimination before the civil rights act was passed.”
I say; For me, quite the contrary. Born and raised in San Diego, CA – having had NO FAMILIARITY with segregation / discrimination until, (as an adult; early 60′s) I became critically aware of “business’ discrimination against my brothers & sisters” (who were much more qualified than I was), but I was ‘welcomed in’ and they were refused entry into corporate America, based on their ‘skin tone.’ Your statement; “ongoing demand for payback???” I say; Tell me now, how do you pay-someone-back for that….. You don’t, you just swallow hard, continue praying for the strength to ‘forgive’ and move on!
And OBTW, “Right Man” and “David Williams” are repremanding you. And guess what; I don’t even know them. (Pretty astute guys, I must say!!!)
Posted by: bobj72 | January 7, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Monroe — Just saw your (fair) question. I was referring to “demand” in the economic sense as people wanting to buy things (the things businesses “supply.”) They’re not exercising that “demand” now because they don’t have the means to (or are spooked by the pervasive atmosphere of doom). But the economy (as I understand it, and God knows, I’m not an economist) depends on that consumer demand to respond to the offerings of various sellers. And right now, there’s not enough of it. Thus, the need to pump up the economy as best we can.
Posted by: tmginnova | January 7, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
tmginnova; Thanks for the clarification. I agree that people aren’t spending right now. But I disagree with the notion that going deeper in debt will give consumers the confidence needed to provoke them to spend when the future looks more bleak every time the government shows panic. The government always thinks the solution to problems is to throw money at them. Every time they throw money they create even greater problems. Sooner or later the burden of our national debt will fall squarely on the shoulders of the tax payers and we know it. Therefore, by increasing the national debt, by increasing the governments commitments, consumer confidence wanes. Why not attack the problems behind the financial crisis like the expensive presence of 30 million illegal immigrants, frivolous lawsuits that drive healthcare expenses upward and cause us to rely on foreign oil while losing jobs in the fuel industry (oil and natural gas), a public education system that is designed to yield suitable test scores rather than to instill a thirst for education (children need nurturing from the adults they come in contact with), coupled with undisciplined classroom environment, fear of violence, unionized teachers and workers that drive the pay scale up for public service jobs as well as the general pay scale, thereby making goods and services cost more while the dollar continues to devaluate? People aren’t spending because they are worried about tomorrow. Financial institutions aren’t lending for the same reason. When we look at our government we see dysfunctional adults fighting among themselves about how our money should be spent instead of looking for ways not to spend so much. Spending wisely is still spending money the government doesn’t have to spend. Government sponsorship of rebuilding our infrastructure will yield jobs but every new government worker represents new government expense. The government cannot support the people financially. The rebuilding project should be a short term commitment as should the additional government jobs.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 7, 2009, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm